I believe I have met my match. Never before have I heard myself utter the words after savoring a bite of dessert, "That's too much chocolate..." but this month's holiday Daring Bakers challenge has proven that such a thing exists. Since I served the yule log for our holiday dinner, I added some festive vintage decorations. The mushrooms and silver trees were my favorite.
This French Yule log has, count 'em, six different elements with a grand total of nine layers. Starting from the bottom up:
1. hazelnut genoise
2. dark chocolate ganache
3. chocolate hazelnut mousse
4. hazelnut praline insert
5. more mousse
6. vegan pastry cream (a stand in for creme brulee)
7. more mousse
8. more genoise
9. chocolate icing
Even the tiniest of pieces felt like a brick of chocolate had just settled in my stomach.
If I ever do dare to make another yule log, I think I will break it up with a bit less chocolate. Maybe a vanilla mousse? I can hardly believe I am typing this out, I feel like I'm cheating on chocolate!
This month's challenge is brought to us by the adventurous Hilda from Saffron and Blueberry and Marion from Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Heureux.
They have chosen a French Yule Log by Flore from Florilege Gourmand.
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38 comments:
Wow. That is wildly chocolatey!! I'd like to overdose on a little of it too!
OH. MY. GOD! That looks incredible!! Too much chocolate?...is there REALLY such a thing??
that really IS a TON of chocolate! i would probably feel overwhelmed by it all! it looks beautiful though! the mushrooms are also my favorite - and the little deer! squeeeeeeeee!
what an extensive & fun challenge! wow!
i absolutely loved this yule log!!!!!!!! too much chocolate is not in my vocabulary haha i didn't eat christmas dinner because i knew i'd be having a gigantic piece (or 2) or this. yours looks amazing. i love the mushrooms. i wanted to make some, but i didn't realize that making marzipan took so long.
Haha, well as a carob-girl, I can understand the whole "too much chocolate" thing ;-) Love your craftsmanship of the yule log!!
Aww, such cute decorations on the top!
Umm, Amanda, something is wrong with you! Hha just kidding. but seriously, there's no such thing as too much chocolate ;o)
I am an avid fan of chocolate, however, I do understand that sometimes something that is nothing but chocolate is just too much (lol, cheating on chocolate, I love it!).
It does look beautiful and delicious though!
Amanda, it's just beautiful! The cake, decorations, and platter are really really lovely. And I felt the same way about all the chocolate. I made my yule log especially for my brother, a true chocolate fiend. He loved it, except for my vanilla pastry creme! He would never believe in too much chocolate.
Chocolate won't hold it against you! You can always go back when that chocolate cravin' feeling hits! What a beautifully decorated & festive French Yule! I'm amazed.
Chocolate cheater! LOL! :)
It looks so gorgeous! So much work, so much chocolate, so little time!
I love the little mushrooms! They remind me of the Smurfs!
Oh, my! That is lovely. I need to get some gumption up and make a cake. I really do.
That is a lot of chocolate! I love the decorations. Thanks (or not) for sharing the Bake It Pretty link. Everything looks awesome!
Wow, that does look like a lotta chocolate but it also looks really good!
Holy chocolate overload! I do love your decorations, though. Very cute!
GORGEOUS job, love the vintage ornaments especially!! and you KNOW we're on the same wavelength regarding the chocolate overload - it's sacrilege, but true :)
Even just looking at the pictures is sending me into a chocolate overdose! It looks delicious .. and I especially like your choice of cake toppers :-D
I honestly can't imagine "too much" chocolate. . . that looks totally heavenly to me! Love the vintage decorations.
Have a happy 2009, Amanda!
too much chocolate? that sounds like something i need to experience ;) i love your decorations!
That sure does sound like the ultimate chocolate challenge!!
Oh, I adore those decorations! And the cake sounds like heaven for a serious chocoholic. ;)
I guess everything really does have a limit! Regardless of the chocolate overload, your yule log is beautiful.
I love the Eiffel Tower jammies you made from one of your previous posts. Jammies were my first sewing project and they turned out a bit too big!
Fantastic job! I was not able to do this months challenge. I hope they keep me in.
Whoooa, that IS a lot of chocolate, but it sounds & looks gorgeous!
Beautiful job, Amanda! I did need to get things a little more vanilla and did a vanilla genoise - next time I'm all about fruits and lighter flavours!
wow that sounds super intense (the making and the eating!) but it looks great. i don't care if it's too much chocolate, my mouth is watering!
Yum! It looks beautifully dark and chocolaty! I really like the vintage picks too. Thanks for the link to the store!
Talk about chocolate decadence! That looks like an awesome Yule Log!
You just need a great big glass of soy milk! Again, love the vintage decorations! :)
The log looks amazing and your decorations are so cute! Happy New Year!
That looks so beautiful! I have been major short on time, so I dropped out of the Daring Bakers (for now)... I bummed, but I hope to be back someday. This looks like quite a delicious challenge. Great job!!
Oh dang! I know my mom was all tripped out about this challenge, decided not to do it :) Kudos to you - yours looks fab! Although I can see where it might be a little overwhelmingly chocolate-y ;)
Happy New Year!
(p.s. yes the leg warmers rock! I want to get another pair or so, they're called BabyLegs actually and we dig em!*thumbs up*)
Great job on your yule log! Happy New Year!
This seemed like quite the challenge. Yours turned out so cute with the decorations.
You did a wonderful job on your yule log. I love all the Christmas decorations.
Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go
please come to boston and make me a yule log. I would pay airfare.
too much chocolate? I'm trying to imagine what that would taste like. yes, cheating on chocolate, indeed. ;)
Looks wonderful with your decorations, but I agree that it was a very rich, chocolate-y dessert. Small portions only are all that's needed!
Wow- I'm trying to imagine the richness! I tried to make one last year, but my genoise broke when I tried to roll it- I think I'll try to make a layered one like your's next year!
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